Guest guest Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 Hi Pat (and everyone in the group) Actually - I've been a vegetarian close to 30 years now and consider myself to be in excellent shape healthwise and physically. One of my main concerns is whether it is important to have fish oil in my diet. (I stopped eating fish at the age of 4 - when I understood what I was eating...) I've read much literature about omega 3 oils and I take flax seed oil as a supplement - but recently have been reading that flax seed oil does not do what fish oil does. I'm in the middle of a big debate with myself whether I want to take fish oil capsules. I became a vegetarian for humanitarian reasons and am happy to be a vegetarian for health reasons - so taking fish oil is a moral decision for me. Yet, if I am fully convinced that my health may be in jeapordy, I would have to think about this option. I'd be happy to hear from others who may have checked out the need for adding fish oil to their diet. Thanks, Oran << Hi Oran - welcome to the group! > > I think you will find our Links page helpful for some of the queries you have on > nutrition, etc. - although if you have been a veggie for nearly 20 years you > really must know quite a bit already, right? I don't know about what you call > nutritional 'warnings' - these days the warnings are usually to those who eat > meat and animal products about the dangers of raised cholesterol levels, > hormones and antibiotics fed to so-called 'food animals', heavy metals in fish, > etc. > > Glad to hear you are promoting vegetarianism for health! It's also good for the > health of the animals of course, so everybody wins. > > We'll look forward to hearing from you! > > Best, Pat (Co-owner)>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 Hi Oran, You're asking a *vegetarian* group whether you should take fish oils? Vegetarians do not consume fish in any form for any reason - if they do so, then they are no longer vegetarians. We find our oils in other ways - Flax oil is one, of course. Others grab a handful of walnuts. Some get it from tofu. Now I understand those who oppose vegetarianism (or are just ignorant about nutrition) may indeed counsel vegetarians to eat fish, take fish oils, or indeed to consider whether their health is at risk without eating animals in this form or another form. If I were you, I would consider the source of your supposed 'information' that flax seed (or other oils not from the death of animals) might not be enough for your health. I doubt it came from vegetarians. You know? LOL And you say you are healthy, so . . . If you haven't already found this site in our Links, go to: http://www.vegsoc.org/info/omega3.html Very helpful! Best, Pat , " Oran Aviv " <oranuri@n...> wrote: > Hi Pat (and everyone in the group) > > Actually - I've been a vegetarian close to 30 years now and consider > myself to be in excellent shape healthwise and physically. > > One of my main concerns is whether it is important to have fish oil > in my diet. (I stopped eating fish at the age of 4 - when I > understood what I was eating...) > > I've read much literature about omega 3 oils and I take flax seed > oil as a supplement - but recently have been reading that flax seed > oil does not do what fish oil does. > > I'm in the middle of a big debate with myself whether I want to take > fish oil capsules. I became a vegetarian for humanitarian reasons > and am happy to be a vegetarian for health reasons - so taking fish > oil is a moral decision for me. Yet, if I am fully convinced that > my health may be in jeapordy, I would have to think about this > option. > > I'd be happy to hear from others who may have checked out the need > for adding fish oil to their diet. > > Thanks, > Oran > > > << Hi Oran - welcome to the group! > > > > I think you will find our Links page helpful for some of the > queries you have on > > nutrition, etc. - although if you have been a veggie for nearly 20 > years you > > really must know quite a bit already, right? I don't know about > what you call > > nutritional 'warnings' - these days the warnings are usually to > those who eat > > meat and animal products about the dangers of raised cholesterol > levels, > > hormones and antibiotics fed to so-called 'food animals', heavy > metals in fish, > > etc. > > > > Glad to hear you are promoting vegetarianism for health! It's also > good for the > > health of the animals of course, so everybody wins. > > > > We'll look forward to hearing from you! > > > > Best, Pat (Co-owner)>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 Hi Oran, I get essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from flax and borage oils. Also be careful of any supplements you may take in capsule form. Most capsules are made with gelatin, which is derived from cowhide and hooves. Karen/Florida Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 > Most capsules are made with gelatin, which is derived from cowhide and > hooves. Which is a most unsavoury matter to contemplate in any case! LOL pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 Hi Pat, Thanks for the link. That is exactly the info I was looking for. (and yes, that is exactly why I asked a vegetarian group about fish oils - to learn why I don't need to take them...) This is the type of research that has made me concerned: http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/80/1/204 " Conclusions: Increased dietary intakes of ALA may increase the risk of advanced prostate cancer. In contrast, EPA and DHA intakes may reduce the risk of total and advanced prostate cancer. " This means that too much Flax seed oil(high ALA) may actually increase the risk of prostate cancer. It seems very confusing to know how much Omega 3 oils we need and what is the right amount of flax seed oil to take. The link to omega 3 for vegetarians was great. Looks like I found the right group to get the info I needed. Thanks. BTW - I take flax seed oil straight from the bottle (from the fridge, of course) so no need to worry about capsules. << You're asking a *vegetarian* group whether you should take fish oils? > Vegetarians do not consume fish in any form for any reason - if they do so, > then they are no longer vegetarians. > > We find our oils in other ways - Flax oil is one, of course. Others grab a > handful of walnuts. Some get it from tofu. Now I understand those who oppose > vegetarianism (or are just ignorant about nutrition) may indeed counsel > vegetarians to eat fish, take fish oils, or indeed to consider whether their > health is at risk without eating animals in this form or another form. > > If I were you, I would consider the source of your supposed 'information' that > flax seed (or other oils not from the death of animals) might not be enough for > your health. I doubt it came from vegetarians. You know? LOL And you say > you are healthy, so . . . > > If you haven't already found this site in our Links, go to: > > http://www.vegsoc.org/info/omega3.html > > Very helpful! > > Best, Pat > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2005 Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 Oran, I get omega-3 essential fatty acids from a vegan supplement. I buy seaweed-derived DHA in vegan capsules. I have to buy it online, because local health food stores do not carry it. Write to me privately if you want the link to order online. from Maida Citizens for Pets in Condos, http://www.petsincondos.org South Florida Vegetarian Events, http://www.soflavegevents.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2005 Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 I forgot to add: The reason I started on DHA (for omega-3 essential fatty acids) is I went to an EarthSave lecture with Dr. Michael Greger. You can listen to his speeches on nutrition and other topics at http://www.veganmd.com. (Scroll down and select " talks online. " from Maida Citizens for Pets in Condos, http://www.petsincondos.org South Florida Vegetarian Events, http://www.soflavegevents.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2005 Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 Research scientists are always coming up with new things to worry us, aren't they? I'd be more concerned about the mercury and heavy metals in f*sh, but to each his (in this case not her) own. Pat > Thanks for the link. That is exactly the info I was looking for. > (and yes, that is exactly why I asked a vegetarian group about fish > oils - to learn why I don't need to take them...) > > This is the type of research that has made me concerned . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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